Harvey Weinstein Suffers Chest Pains As He Is Convicted For Rape And Sexual Assault

Harvey Weinstein, 67, the disgraced Hollywood producer who became the reason behind the revolutionary #MeToo that has taken over the world, has finally been convicted of raping and sexually assaulting two women. Following the conviction on February 24, 2020, he suffered chest pains and was rushed to the Bellevue Hospital Center.

A New York Jury has convicted Weinstein of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his apartment in 2006 and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a hotel room in 2013. But he was acquitted of other charges, which included two serious counts of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape in relation to Mann. But despite all the acquittals, Weinstein faces a 29-year prison sentence.

“I'm innocent. I'm innocent. How can this happen in America?” said a stunned Weinstein to his lawyer when the jury of seven men and five women declared their verdict after five days. In fact, he was so shocked by his conviction that he didn’t even move when approached by court officers who handcuffed him and led him out of the courtroom via a side door.

He then appeared to have chest pains and was then taken away from the courthouse by an ambulance to the hospital instead of Rikers Island prison, as Judge James Burke had initially ordered. It was later confirmed he was having heart palpitations and suffering from high blood pressure.

Weinstein has had a back surgery back in December 2019, following a car crash in August and had been seen using walkers at court. The judge has ordered that Weinstein should be held in the prison infirmary as he needs medical attention following his unsuccessful back surgery.

“Harvey is very strong. Harvey is unbelievably strong. He took it like a man. He knows that we will continue to fight for him and knows that this is not over,” said Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno outside the court.

“It is absolutely horrible for me to watch my client be taken into custody. We don't feel good about that at all. Obviously, this is a bittersweet day. We are disappointed,” she added. “We knew we came in and we were down 35-0 on the day that we started this trial. The jurors came in knowing everything they could know about this case. We couldn't find a juror who had never heard of Harvey Weinstein.”

On the other hand, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is all praise for the verdict.

“Rape is rape whether it's committed by a stranger in a dark alley or by an intimate partner in a working relationship. It's rape whether it's committed by an indigent person or by a man of power, prestige, and privilege,” he said. “Rape is rape whether the survivor report within an hour, year or perhaps never. It's rape despite the complicated dynamics of power and consent after an assault. It' rape even if there is no physical evidence and even if it happened a long time ago.”